Birdhouses

Pretty in Pink Altered Birdhouse

After having made an altered birdhouse once previously, Inspire, I was itching to make another one. So the Pretty in Pink one below is the result.

I wanted to keep this one looking simple, yet elegant. So almost all of the detail is on the front of the wooden birdhouse. The base is painted a very pale pink (of course). Then I used a pearlescent-looking white fluid acrylic on the edges of the roof, the base, and the birdhouse perch near the opening. I added some pretty pink patterned scrapbook paper to the roof; it has a delicate copper-looking and white scrolling pattern on it that I just loved. I also created a circle out of that paper to put around the birdhouse opening. Next I added some ivory trim to the base of the birdhouse. Then I used a chipboard accent that I painted with copper and white, and that has a shape that closely mimicked the roof paper, as a decorative embellishment for the front of the birdhouse. I added a white paper flower on top of that, which I also dry-brushed some pink paint onto the raised areas of the flower. And the final touch was some pink rhinestone gems; one is added the little perch, and one to the chipboard embellishment. And voila! Pretty in Pink, indeed.

I’ll be making more altered birdhouses soon. They really are fun. They’ll be going up for sale in our new store too, which I am hard at work on!

Tina

Wooden Birdhouse Inspire

I decided to try something new today in the studio. It’s sort of a combination of Altered Art and just plain being crafty. The end result was this decorated wooden birdhouse.

I started with a plain wooden birdhouse that I found at JoAnn Fabrics. I painted it a buttermilk yellow color all over. Then I added some light turquoise colored scrapbook paper with a copper-looking pattern on it to the birdhouse roof. I also added a burnt sienna color around the bottom edge of the birdhouse for some color contrast with the yellow–and to also tie in the with copper-looking color in the roof paper. And for just a hint of texture. I dabbed on some copper ink on top of the burnt sienna edge color. Once those basics were finished, I began with embellishments.

First I added a decorative paper element around the birdhouse opening. It’s a K & Company piece that I used a craft punch on to cut a hole out of the center. Then I added a Tim Holz metal gear element near the top of the birdhouse front. Next I used a decorative rubber stamp to create a border design around the birdhouse using copper ink. I embellished that with some light turquoise ribbon. Then I added a fabric flower with a copper/bronze brad and a metallic bird embellishment. And I finished it off with a 3-D sticker that says, Inspire. I’m always inspired by nature and things outdoors, so that seemed an appropriate sentiment for this piece.

I had so much fun making this birdhouse, I think I might do a whole series of them. I have been jotting down ideas for future projects, so we’ll see what comes of it in the future.

Have a safe and creative end to your holiday weekend, everyone!

Tina